In a collaborative effort with central agencies, Punjab Police has uncovered a Pakistan-supported narco-terrorism hawala network. The police team arrested 11 individuals, confiscating foreign currency equivalent to INR 50.9 million. Over the past month, Punjab Police has intensified their anti-drug campaign, apprehending 3,868 drug traffickers. Under the directives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police is committed to making the state drug-free.
Punjab Police's Action against Drugs
In just 24 days, Punjab Police arrested 3,868 drug traffickers, registering 2,177 FIRs. They recovered 135 kg of heroin, 82 kg of opium, and INR 54.2 million in drug money. Under the anti-drug mission 'Yudh Nashe Virodh', initiated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Punjab Police, in collaboration with central agencies, exposed the Pakistan-backed narco-terror hawala network, arresting 11 individuals, including five drug traffickers, three drug hawala money couriers, and three hawala businessmen.
The police also seized INR 50.9 million in various foreign currencies. DGP Gaurav Yadav shared this information on Monday.
Police Action Following Interrogation Revelations
This operation was conducted following a thorough investigation into two individuals, Harjinder Singh alias Ajay and Harmanjeet Singh alias Harry, who were arrested on January 21, 2025, with 263 grams of heroin and INR 5.6 lakh in drug money. After two months of in-depth investigation and monitoring of their activities, Punjab Police unveiled the entire network.
DGP Gaurav Yadav stated in a press conference that during this investigation, ANTF police teams arrested three hawala money couriers—Saurav Mahajan, Tanush and Harminder alias Harry—the very next day, seizing INR 4.75 million in drug money and impounding their Mahindra XUV 300 car. As the case investigation progressed, two more drug traffickers named Sagar and Lavdeep Singh alias Lala were apprehended on January 24, recovering INR 500,000 in drug money, an Activa scooter, and 160 grams of heroin from them.
The ongoing investigation led police teams to the mastermind Harbhajan Singh alias Bhaja, who, while residing in Amritsar Central Jail, remained in contact with Pakistan-based drug trafficker Shahbaz. He was brought out of jail on a production warrant and arrested on January 26.
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It is notable that Pakistani trafficker Shahbaz, hailing from Budewal village in the Narowal district of Pakistan, had illegally entered India. An FIR was lodged against him in February 2021, and he was held in Amritsar Central Jail before being deported back to Pakistan.
The DGP revealed that initial investigations showed that Harbhajan Singh and Harmanjeet alias Harry met the Pakistani trafficker Shahbaz while they were both incarcerated in Amritsar Central Jail. Once released, they continued their smuggling operations by maintaining contact via mobile phones, involving Harminder alias Harry in the trafficking activities.
They admitted during interrogation that under Shahbaz’s instructions, they deposited drug money through Sharma Forex Money Exchanger and Forex Advisor in Phagwara. In this case, Ashok Sharma and his associate Sunil were named and arrested on March 17 and 18.
DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that based on technical investigation, the police arrested another associate of Ashok Sharma, Rajesh alias Bobby, from his house, recovering INR 5 million each.
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DGP Gaurav Yadav disclosed that further investigations resulted in the police recovering a total of INR 3.659 million (a total recovery of INR 14.5 million in Indian currency) from various locations, along with €263,630, $7,000, CAD$10,020, £27,500, and 285 dirhams. Additionally, 372 grams of gold were confiscated.
The DGP announced that ANTF has identified properties worth hundreds of crores belonging to this network and has initiated confiscation procedures under section 68F of the NDPS Act. The investigation also revealed the network's reach in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Phagwara, and Panchkula. The police seized four luxury cars, including a Mahindra XUV 300, BMW, Mahindra Thar Automatic, and Hyundai i10, from the accused.
Identification of Drug Traffickers
The arrested drug traffickers have been identified as Harjinder Singh alias Ajay (26) from Ram Talai, Amritsar, Harmanjeet Singh alias Harry (27) from Guru Nanak Colony, Amritsar, Sagar (28) from Narayangarh, Chehartta, Amritsar, Lavdeep Singh alias Lala (30) from Husnpur Kala, Batala, and Harbhajan Singh alias Bhaja (30) from Kakkar, Amritsar. Meanwhile, the arrested drug hawala money couriers are Saurav alias Saurav Mahajan (24) from Jora Phatak, Amritsar, Tanush (28) from Ghas Mandi Chowk, Amritsar, and Harminder Singh alias Harry (28) from Damganj, Amritsar.
The arrested hawala businessmen have been identified as Ashok Kumar Sharma (60), owner of Sharma Forex Money Changer in Phagwara, Rajesh Kumar (50) from Mutiyaarpur, Phagwara, and Amit Bansal alias Sunil (47) from Sukhchain Nagar, Phagwara.
